(Describer) An animation plays showing flat images revolving around the Earth. Title: Teen Kids News. A teen boy with short, dark hair and warm brown skin sits behind a desk. A bank of monitors shows behind him. Title: Reed.

[upbeat music]

Hi, you're watching "Teen Kids News." I'm Reed. Let's begin with our top story.

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(Describer) Title: Teen Kids News, Top Story.

When it comes to applying to college, no part of the application offers you a better chance to show who you are than the college essay. Emily gets some tips.

(Describer) A girl teen, Emily

If you're a natural writer, then tackling the college essay is no big deal. But for many of us, the essay is one of the most daunting parts of the application. Lucky for us, the Princeton Review's editor-in-chief, Rob Franek, is here with advice. Rob, you have five essay tips. The first one is, do your prep homework. What does that mean exactly? Oh, it's a good question. And just like any high-school assignment, you have to do your homework for your college essay assignments, but specifically the essay requirements at the colleges that you're considering applying to. You know, there's a checklist of application guidelines, and you have to make that list of the requirements for that essay, from prompts to possible topics, to overall length. And you can also check the essay prompts for the Common Application. On the Common App, you can apply to over 1,000 schools using one Common Application. Okay. Your second tip is to start early. How early? Ideally, the summer before your senior year is the perfect amount of time, because it allows plenty of time to write, rewrite, edit, spell check, grammar check all of your essays. Do you recommend writing a new essay for each application, or can we just reuse the same one? One size doesn't fit all, necessarily. Let's remember that if you're using the Common Application, there are a series of essay prompts to choose from. Choosing one of those prompts and running that one essay is completely acceptable. Many schools may ask you to submit supplemental essays. For those, you should write separate essays. Of course. Why would they make it easy? Moving on to your next tip: keep it brief. How brief? Generally speaking, 400 to 650 words. Remember to imagine how many essays admission teams must be reading for each of those college admission applications. Somehow, I find it hard to feel all that sorry for them, which I guess is a nice segue to tip number four. Make your essays truly about you, meaning us, of course. So you're saying not to try to game the system? Yes. Not the you that you think admission officers want to see. Stick to your voice and your style, and have the essay reveal something about you that's not anywhere else in your application. I assume sheer terror doesn't count.

[Rob laughs]

Didn't think so. And your last tip reminds us how important it is to have a great opening and closing. Absolutely. Let's channel and remember all of the essays that you created already in high school, having a great opening, a solid middle, and then an awesome closing. You make it sound so easy, Rob. But with your tips, I'll definitely essay to write a great essay. You are most welcome. You're gonna be fabulous. Before you dive in to what may very well be the single most important essay in your entire life-- just kidding-- the essay is only one part of the application process. But if you'd like some thought starters, check out the Princeton Review's "Essays that Kicked Apps: "55 Unforgettable College Application Essays that Got Students Accepted." For "Teen Kids News," I'm Emily.

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(Describer) Title: We’re proud to announce Teen Kids News has received its 10th Emmy Nomination! Now, a white, straight-haired teen girl hosts. Title: Hidden in Plain Sight.

When "Teen Kids News" returns, I'll tell you about one of the strangest places to ever hide billions of dollars.

(Describer) Reed.

In her Gems of Germany report, Ava tells us about a small town that kept a gigantic secret.

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(Describer) Over a map of Germany, images of iconic German food and structures drift past. Title: Gems of Germany. A riverside town sits under a cloudy sky.

[gentle music]

(Ava) The town of Cochem looks like a place frozen in time, except for the buses and cars. Cochem Looks much like it did in the late Middle Ages. A castle still sits high above the village, affording commanding views of the valley below. This is not the original castle. The previous one was left in ruins after invading troops of French king Louis XIV set fire to the castle. After the French left, the castle was eventually rebuilt as a home for a wealthy businessman. He added iron cannons and funny-looking stone statues to recreate the feeling of medieval times. The only part of the original castle is this tower, the Witches Tower. It has a dark name and an even darker history.

[thunder crackles]

Here was where women charged with witchcraft faced a simple but awful trial. The accused were thrown out of the tower's high window. It was believed only a witch could survive the fall. So if she did survive, that proved she was guilty, and she was then executed. However, if she died in the fall, she was declared innocent. Innocent but dead. Guess they were called the Dark Ages for a reason. Look carefully and you can see that the town was once surrounded by high walls. Most of the walls are long gone, but three huge gates, like this one, still stand. They give you an idea of just how massive those walls must have been. Cochem was, and still is, a thriving town because a river runs through it. Called the Moselle, it winds its way from France, through Luxembourg, and into Western Germany. A favorite tourist attraction is to take a short cruise while listening to the prerecorded tour guide.

(Tour Guide) The Moselle rises in the Vosges, and 545 kilometers later, flows into the Rhine at Koblenz.

(Ava) Along the river, you'll gently glide past the pastel painted buildings, the many open green areas, as well as the scenic bike paths. The recorded tour guide explains that this area is famous for growing wine.

(Tour Guide) The innumerable vineyards are the predominant feature of the Moselle landscape. Two thousand years ago, the Romans brought wine to the Moselle.

(Ava) This valley is so peaceful, it's hard to think that it played a vital role during the Cold War.

[guns cracking] [tense music]

(Describer) In archival combat footage, soldiers on a battlefield fire machine guns and heavy weaponry.

No sooner had World War II ended than a new conflict began: the Cold War. This was between the world's two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. The term Cold War came from an essay written by George Orwell. He's far more famous for writing two books many of us read in school: "Animal Farm" and "1984." Orwell called the conflict a "cold war," because while there was lots of tension, angry words, and spying, there was very little fighting. But it was still a very dangerous time. In the 1950s and early '60s, the world lived in fear that a terrible new war would break out.

[bomb explodes]

(Describer) A mushroom cloud.

A nuclear war. Countries made all kinds of plans in case that happened. In America, some people built bomb shelters in their basements or backyards, stocking them with food and supplies. And kids were taught what to do if there's an attack.

(Describer) A black and white cartoon.

(singers) ♪ There was a turtle by the name of Bert ♪

♪ And Bert the turtle was very alert ♪

♪ When danger threatened him, he never got hurt ♪

♪ He knew just what to do ♪

♪ He'd duck and cover ♪

♪ Duck and cover ♪

(Ava) We can laugh at this cartoon today, but back in the 1950s, people were worried that the Cold War could suddenly become a nuclear war, and films like these were made to tell the public what to do.

(Newsreel announcer) First, you duck, and then you cover. It's a bomb! Duck and cover! Paul and Patty know what to do. People in Europe were even more concerned because they lived much closer to the Soviet Union than we do. And that brings us back to the peaceful and pretty town of Cochem. The West German government worried that if there were a nuclear war, how would they be able to keep the country's economy running? So they wanted a safe place to store billions of German dollars, called marks. Nestled in a deep valley and protected by high hills, Cochem seemed a pretty safe place. But where to keep all that money? They decided to bury it, in a vault 90 feet underground. And they built these two ordinary-looking houses to hide the stash of cash. For years, none of the Cochem residents knew that they were living right next to billions and billions of dollars. In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, and the Cold War ended. The hidden money was removed. The vault is now an underground museum, and the fake houses that hid it for decades have been turned into a hotel. Guess if you want to check out this story, all you have to do is check into the hotel. I'm Ava for "Teen Kids News." We've gotta take a short break, and then we'll be back with more "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Title: Nixing Nicotine.

Most of us know that smoking is bad for your health, but as Scott reports, cigarettes contain a chemical that makes smoking particularly harmful to us teens.

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(Describer) Title: Nicotine. A red-haired teen boy.

I don't really know exactly what it is, but I know you're not supposed to like, have it...

[static crackles]

and just can really damage your body. Nicotine is what gets you addicted to cigarettes. Well, nicotine is a drug. It's a stimulant. It acts on your central nervous system.

(Scott) Like heroin or cocaine, nicotine changes the way your brain works. It causes the body to want more and more as you continue to use nicotine. This means nicotine is addictive. But as Dr. Carroll points out, it's even more addictive if you're a teen. Teenagers have a developing brain, and during that developmental period, you are much more likely to get addicted to things like nicotine.

(Scott) To understand what being addicted to nicotine means, you need to understand what happens when your body stops getting nicotine.

(Describer) Dana Cavallo.

So when people quit smoking, they will often experience what we call nicotine withdrawal. That is that they're, you know, they're used to having nicotine onboard, and then when they quit smoking, their body sort of, you know, has to get used to not having nicotine. So we call this withdrawal.

(Scott) When you go into withdrawal, you can get cravings. A craving is your brain causing you to want more. So with nicotine, you get a physical craving for another cigarette. That craving makes it hard to think about anything else. To give you an idea, we asked adults who smoked to describe what nicotine withdrawal feels like. It was really hard. I've quit about three times in the seven years in which I've been smoking. Enormous cravings. Not just cravings for cigarettes, but cravings for food. Most of it are food, which is not good for my diet. 'Cause I was like, getting headaches. I had anxiety. I was nervous. Like, biting my nails. You can tell that they're really agitated until they get the cigarette. I will get anxious. My craving was put me like, I need a cigarette, I need a cigarette.

(Scott) And unfortunately, these symptoms don't go away immediately. If you're addicted to smoking, the physical cravings last for about a month. So it takes quite a long time to get unhooked from cigarettes once you're hooked.

(Scott) And that means all kinds of cigarettes and tobacco products. Even many e-cigarettes, or vape pens, contain nicotine. For example, here's what one maker of e-cigarettes has printed on its pack: "This product contains nicotine. "Nicotine is addictive and habit forming, "and is very toxic by inhalation, "in contact with the skin, or if swallowed. "Nicotine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, "and cause dizziness nausea and stomach pain. "Inhalation of this product may aggravate existing respiratory conditions." Need I say more?

[air whooshes]

They say that safe driving is no accident. You have to work at being safe. To help with that, here's another short video from the National Road Safety Foundation.

(Describer) A blonde teen girl drives with a friend.

[upbeat music]

Everybody's driving too slowly.

(Describer) The friend.

She always speeds. But she's driving, so what can I say? I can beat this light. It was already yellow. There was no way we could beat it. Did I just blow a stop sign? Oh well. That's it. I've got to say something. Either pull over and let me out, or slow down. You're going to get us killed. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. She's right. Speeding is stupid.

(Describer) Title: Speak up!

Don't miss the other cool videos created by the NRSF. It's easy to find more. Simply like, follow, and subscribe to the National Road Safety Foundation. We'll be right back with more "Teen Kids News" right after this.

(Describer) Title: Hands Up for Michigan.

There's an entire history lesson in a state flag. You just need to know what to look for.

[upbeat percussive music]

(Describer) Images flash of numerous different flags. Title: Flag Facts. Ellie, a white teen girl with straight brown hair, hosts.

If you ask someone what state they're from, and they hold up their hand like this,

(Describer) Palm forward.

they're from Michigan. Here's Detroit. The state is shaped like a mitten with a hat on it. Michigan is made up of two peninsulas, the lower and the upper, called the UP. In English, the Michigan motto means, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." A peninsula is a body of land surrounded on three sides by water, and Michigan has an extensive coastline. There are the four Great Lakes. They're Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Superior.

(Ellie) And it's right there on the flag, the Latin for, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you." You'll also find lots of water. Michigan has more coastline than any state but Alaska. And this is actually how the missionaries and the fur trappers that settled the land first got there.

(Ellie) That's one of them on the shore in the center of the flag. Although he's holding a gun, he's waving. A peaceful gesture, you might say. But then there's this word. Tuebor means "I will defend" and dates back to 1835, when tensions rose so high between the neighboring states, Michigan and Ohio, that they almost went to war.

(Ellie) There's more Latin across the top. You'll recognize "e pluribus unum," one from many, a salute to the diversity that helps make this country great. Oh, almost forgot. Move over, Diagon Alley. The Michigan town of Colon is home to the biggest maker of magical supplies. With Flag Facts, I'm Ellie.

[air whooshes]

(Describer) Title: Ava.

Here's some words of wisdom. They're from Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of our 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." That means that believing in ourselves is the best armor against that all-too-common plague in life: bullies. So it bears repeating. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

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(Describer) An e-mail reads, I will be teaching health this year to middle school age students. I stumbled upon your TV show on Saturday morning recently and was very impressed. -N. Bradshaw.

It's time for a quick commercial break, but we'll be right back with more "Teen Kids News." So don't go away.

(Describer) Title: BEAR in Mind!

Let's face it, relationships can be stressful. Trying to please your parents, teachers, friends, even the other kids at school, takes a lot of work, and sometimes a lot of worry. Dealing with the expectations of others while staying true to yourself is a high-wire balancing act. Fortunately, there are ways to handle all that stress. Emily has this week's Yoga & You report.

(Describer) Images of people in yoga positions float in front of clouds. Title: Yoga and You.

[relaxing music]

(Emily) "Access your Inner Power" is a book on yoga, and it's written by Brenda Schnable. So Brenda, there's not a yoga pose for dealing with stressful relationships, is there? Well, there is, but relationships really deal on an emotional level. If you think of your relationships, you're happy, sad, angry. Those are all emotions. And the best way to deal with emotions is doing something like working with your mental energy, doing meditation. Interesting. So what is meditation? Meditation, think of like when you're angry with your parents, and you really wanna calm down. Meditation will help you get that focus, concentration, and bring peace back to you. So show me what to do. All right, so let's sit down.

(Emily) Okay. So let me show you what to do. You wanna find a comfortable seated position. So you might want to, you know, cross your ankles like this and sit nice and tall. And then take your hands and just play some lightly on your belly. Relax those shoulders down and close those eyes. When you close your eyes, you can concentrate better, and you can block out the outside world. And we're gonna concentrate on our breath. And we're gonna take our breath and feel it move our hands.

(Describer) They press their palms against their stomachs as they breathe. Their hands move out and in.

And when you do that, when you concentrate on something like your breath, the anger that you felt with the fight you had with your parents goes away, and you feel better. So open your eyes. How do you feel? Feels good. So how does meditation help us? You know, when we feel better and calmer, we boost our self-esteem, our self-confidence, and we can handle ourselves. And we begin to trust our own judgment. And therefore, we cannot be swayed by other people's opinions or just people please. Mm-hmm. I'm feeling calmer and ready to tell my parents about my grades. Well, just kidding. I'm an A student, if that's not stressful enough. Thank you, Brenda. You're welcome. For Yoga & You, I'm Emily.

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(Describer) Title: Brendan.

If you live in or visit Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, or Alaska, it's possible you may come across a grizzly bear. If you do, what should you do? Definitely don't run, climb a tree, or try to swim away. Grizzlies can outswim, outclimb, and even outrun Olympic athletes. In fact, a grizzly can run as fast as a horse, about 40 miles an hour. So back to the question I asked a minute ago. If you come across a grizzly, what should you do? Here's what wildlife experts say. If the bear is staying still, move away slowly. And it's better to move sideways. It's less threatening to the bear, and you'll be less likely to trip and fall. If the bear is coming towards you, stay put and stay calm. This next piece of advice may sound strange. Talk to the bear. It seems that the sooner the bear realizes that you're a human and not a threat, the sooner it will probably leave you alone. When you can, move away slowly. Despite all that advice, I just can't "bear" the thought of coming face to face with a grizzly. For "Teen Kids News," I'm Brendan.

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That's it for this edition of "Teen Kids News." Thanks for watching. See you again next week.

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(Describer) Credits. Producer: Marilou Yacoub. Director / Writer: Alan J. Weiss. Original Theme Music: Michael Karp. Executive Producer: Alan J. Weiss. For more information visit NRSF-dot-org. Additional credits roll. Copyright Alan Weiss Productions Incorporated, 2023, all rights reserved. Logo: Alan Weiss Productions. Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.